Heavy rain leads to high water rescues in Clay County

CLAY COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) - Officials with the Clay County Sheriff's Office say there were also rescues underway there. Their efforts were mainly focused in the Goose Rock community on Highway 1524.

Some people in Clay County were unable to get out of their homes because they were trapped by high waters. That's what rescue crews and the Clay County Sheriff's Office have been dealing with throughout the day.

With several inches of rain overnight, flash flooding became an issue fast. Water covered roads and got into houses, leaving elderly and disabled stranded.

Some say they were even scared for their family's safety.

"They were in the bed asleep and were already trapped in their trailer. And then when my mom stepped out to try to get them out of the trailer, and it was already up to her waist," said Renee Smallwood, who lives in an area of Clay County that flooded.

Laurel County crews aided in boats, making sure no one else was trapped. And as of Wednesday afternoon, the waters were starting to go down but not enough for people to return home just yet.

"It's coming down a lot and quick because we can now see grass in this field and if it comes down enough, then I can walk through the field and get to them," said Smallwood.

Thankfully, there are no reports of anyone being injured in Clay County.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office also reports a driver on Highway 638 was trapped Wednesday morning when their vehicle got trapped in high water. They were rescued and the vehicle was pulled from the water.

Kentucky Emergency Management is closely monitoring flooding in several eastern Kentucky counties as a result of heavy rains that moved across the state Tuesday night and Wednesday morning.

Strong thunderstorms capable of producing strong winds and heavy rains are forecast for much of the Commonwealth over the next few days.

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